Friday, November 28, 2008

Because of terror attacks in Mumbai, England have cut short the seven-match ODI series and are scheduled to fly back home on Saturday morning. To save the two-match Test series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shifted the final Test from Mumbai to Chennai.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured BCCI that the team would return for the Test series starting in Ahmedabad on December 11.

Terror attacks has not only affected Englands tour of India but the weeklong Champions League which was scheduled to start Wednesday, involving eight teams from Australia, South Africa, India, England and Pakistan has also been postponed.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Yuvraj seemed to have no mercy over England bowlers in the first One-day international of the first India England ODI series at Rajkot. 4's and 6's were raining like hell. Yuvraj’s splendid knock of 138 of 78 balls led to a 158 rout by India beating England. Yuvraj’s knock which included 16 fours and 6 sixes was reminiscent of his T20 knock in 2007 Twenty 20 world cup in South Africa.

Yuvrajs exhilarating century was the quickest century in ODIs against England and the second fastest century by any Indian in this format of the game. Pietersen had nothing but admiration for Yuvraj later said that "If you stand and watch an innings like Yuvraj played and Sehwag you have just got to take your hat off to the way they played”. Yuvraj who batted with a runner because of a back injury during the early part of his innings scored his ninth one-day century. This innings was one of Yuvraj’s finest innings ever in the format of the game. Yuvraj later said "I've had a couple of bad months with not being in the Test side but I am coming back to my best and to hit a knock like that was a good effort".

Such a knock from Yuvraj was long overdue and no better way to come back in form from a couple of months of unsuccessful stretch. Yuvraj who scored 100 of his 138 runs in boundaries really got going after the power play was taken after 34 overs. Yuvraj lifted Andrew Flintoff with an elegant six down the ground and then he started his brute force attack getting to fifty from only 38 balls. At that time the stage was set for Yuvraj, his confidence and form seemed to back with a vengeance and he raced from 50 to 100 in just 22 balls and his last 37 runs were scored in 13 balls. This indeed was one of the finest knocks I had ever witnessed so much not for me for Yuvi himself.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Having retired from international cricket, Sourav Ganguly will surely miss sharing the dressing room with his team-mates. So what does life hold for him after retirement? CNN-IBN caught up with him at his home in Kolkata for an exclusive interview.

CNN-IBN: It must be a fantastic feeling for you. When you left the Indian dressing room it was a happy dressing room, a victorious dressing room.

Sourav Ganguly: Oh yes, of course. When I announced my retirement, I hoped that it would finish this way. I finished with a smiling face on everyone.

I couldn't have expected more than this, beating the best team in the world 2-0 convincingly, in India, and performing so well, not just me but everyone. We finished (the series) with a lot of high. I couldn't have expected more than this.

CNN-IBN: You have got a T-shirt signed by the entire team and Sachin Tendulkar again failed to write correct Bengali on it.

Sourav Ganguly: Yes, it was pretty emotional, touching. I didn't even know about it. I had gone to do an interview so my wife took the shirt out from my bag and quietly asked all the boys to sign it. It was a nice gesture from her. It was the first time I found her so interested in the game.They are a fantastic bunch of boys. You hear a lot of things when things don't go well, but unless and until you actually be in the dressing room you don't know what it's all about. So it's been a fantastic journey.

CNN-IBN: Sourav, how are you as a Dad? Are you a strict father?

Sourav Ganguly: No, not really.

Dona Ganguly: He has his times. There are times he becomes strict and says 'I should discipline my daughter'. But at times he is so liberal, but that's during the times when he used to come back from tours. But when he would stay for a longer time he felt like he should discipline.

Sourav Ganguly: With me she (his daughter) can get away with everything.

Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly are being felicitated by the BCCI in the chandelier-dripping club house at the stadium, in the presence of the who’s who of Indian cricket and there isn’t a cricketer who isn’t moved, writes S. Ram Mahesh.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Anil Kumble has announced his retirement from cricket, saying the finger injury he sustained on the third day of the Test helped him make his decision. The news was made public minutes after the tea break on the final day; Kumble then bowled four overs before the match was called off as a draw.

"The body was asking questions every day," he said. "It was not easy to keep bowling the way I have been bowling the last 18 years, to keep going. The injury I had on the third day probably helped me make the decision."

The captaincy now passes on to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who already leads India in the shorter forms of the game.

Kumble made the formal announcement at the post-match press conference, at which he received a standing ovation from the journalists crowded into the room. He doffed his cap and sat down to speak to the media one last time as an India player and captain. He stayed composed throughout the conference, which took place minutes after the emotional farewell he had received on the field.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Aspirited India today recorded their first ever bilateral ODI series triumph in Sri Lanka, beating the hosts by 46 runs in the fourth one day international to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five match series. Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again was involved in building a partnership as Raina and Virat Kohli also played a handsome role.Brief Scores : India 258 all out (49.4 overs), Raina 76, Dhoni 71, Kohli 54. Bowling, T'shara 5/47. Sri Lanka 212 all out (46.3 overs), Jayasuria 60, T'shara 40. Bowling, Harbhajan 3/40.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The fourth one dayer between India and Sri Lanka was called off today without a single ball being bowled due to intermittent rain at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The day night match will be played on the reserved day on Wednesday. Umpires Billy Doctrove and Gamini Silva made the final inspection at around 6 pm and took the decision to draw stumps.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Australia's opening batsman Matthew Hayden will miss Australia's limited overs cricket series against Bangladesh starting Saturday because of an Achilles tendon injury. Michael Clarke will lead the team in Ponting's absence. Matthew Hayden has been the most successful opener for the Australian team in the recent past. We wish Hayden to recover soon.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

India managed to script a narrow 33-run victory in the third one dayer against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from front with his 76-run knock to help India put a fighting total on th board. It looked that Indian pacers were involved in a race to outshine each other as Zaheer Khan struck thrice.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

After two low scoring games in the series for both sides, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene expects his batsmen to come good on the batting friendly track of Premadasa and said that Chaminda Vaas was shaping up well to play in Sunday's match. On talking about the fragile Indian batting Mahela said that "these are the players who are playing for quite some time. So you can't say that. It is just that probably you should give credit to our bowlers. So I think I am sure they will come stongly and we just have to be prepared.

Friday, August 22, 2008

India Test captain Anil Kumble has come out strongly in defence of the starry Indian middle - order who came a cropper against the Sri Lankan spin duo of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan in the recently concluded three match test series which the visitors lost 1-2.

"I don't know who gave this tag - Fab Four. They have done so much for the Indian cricket over the last 15 years. Agreed, they failed in this Test series, but it happens in cricket. We should not forget their contribution in the past. The Fab Four the leg spinner was referring to - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman - performed much below expectations in the series.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

The legendary Kapil Dev praised Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis for his splendid show against India so far but felt that the medis was going overboard with the coverage of the bowler, who had to still prove his credentials. "No doubt that Mendis's performance in the on-going India Sri Lanka series is very good but the media has highlighted a bit too prominently. It is too early to say if he will continue to perform like this for long.

Regarding growth of the ICL, Kapil said that it is just a one year old baby and how could one expect it to grow overnight.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Though India won the second one day international match but Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was a bit worried when India lost seven wickets while chasing a victory target of 143 and lauded debutant Subramaniam Badrinath for his responsible knock.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Mohammad Asif today found himself in deep trouble as the dope test of his B sample has also tested positive for a contraband, leaving the Pakistan pacer facing the possibility of being banned for two years. " I can only confirm the B sample test has come positive but the result of both the tests are different which is strange to us ". Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim said from Geneva. "Since he played in an Indian domestic event and was also tested there, it's not us who are going to launch an inquiry into the case." PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said".

Monday, August 18, 2008

The Indian batting once again failed as the visitors were thrashed by eight wickets in the first one day international match at Dambulla. Sri Lanka comfortably chased down the target in less than 35 overs as skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit a breezy half century.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Team India ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said that the start from the openers was very important and there would be added responsibility on the opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the one dayers. On questioning about Virat Kohli Dhoni said " Depends on whether he gets a chance. There is pressure because he has come in place of the maestro Sachin Tendulkar. It's not that he is replacing Sachin Tendulkar. He's second in line. The extra batsman before him will get a chance and then Badrinath will get a chance."

Saturday, August 16, 2008

India vice captain, Yuvraj Singh who played a scintillating knock of 172 said that, facing Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis will not be easy and India will have to do very well to win the upcoming one-dayers against the Sri Lanka team. On his injured back Yuvi said " Better now, so hopefully i'll be fully fit before the first match. I didn't have any problems running, after scoring 25-30, the body was getting fatigued, which was nothing unusual for a batsman batting at that position.Brief Scores : India 342/5 (50 overs), Sri Lanka XI 250/6 (50 overs)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene today said his team have gained in confidence after winning the Test series and would make sure that they did the right things in the ODIs against India as well. "We are very confident about the way we are playing. We are developing a young group of players to take over and senior guys are doing a great job. We just need to be working hard. Just make sure that we do all the things right". Jayawardene had not given much thought to the role of Ajantha Mendis against India because winning was important not an individual of a team.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

India ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who gave the Test series a miss but is returning to lead the team in the shorter version of the game said that experienced players should be more accountable than other members of the team in the Tests. " You cannot ask a Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman or Anil Kumble to prove their credentials", said Dhoni. The player from Jharkhand refused there was a need of separate sets of cricketers for Tests and the 50-50 or Twenty 20 matches. "Not at all. A player can be good in ODIs and Tests and T20 as well. Look at Virender Sehwag or Gautam Gambhir."

Monday, August 11, 2008

What a contrast ? The day began with Chandigarh da munda Abhinav Bindra's golden shot in Beijing and thousands of miles away ended with a big defeat for Team India at Colombo. Despite of their poor performance Team India is not willing to accept the fact that the Sri Lankan bowlers were a bit difficult to play. Kumble is one of the team members who still denies the fact that the man of the series Ajantha Mendis was a mystery Spinner.

Kevin Peiterson celebrated his first Test as England captain with a consolation 6-wicket victory over South Africa in the fourth and final Test at The Oval. Andrew Flintoff hot the winning runs with a straight six as he and Paul Collingwood steered the home side to victory.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

India were desperately struggling to save the series deciding third and final Test at 161 for 5 just managing to wipe out the deficit in their second innings against Sri Lanka on the third day.With half of their batsmen back in the pavilion, Indians managed only a 14-run lead.

A.B. De Villiers scored 97 to give South Africa an outside chance of winning the fourth and the final Test between England and South Africa at the Oval. England faced eight balls without adding a run or losing a wicket before rain brought the day to a premature close. After attacking most of the match Pieterson deployed a defensive field for De Villiers.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

A brilliant unbeaten 107 by Kumar Sangakkara steered Sri Lanka to a 2-run first innings lead against India as the hosts piled up 251 before bad light stopped play on the second day of the third and final test between India and Sri Lanka. Sangakkara dispatched loose deliveries from spinners and pacemen alike with impunity and raced to his 17th Test century with the help of 11 boundaries.

Play was called off on the third day of the fourth Test between England and South Africa after rain reduced the action to just 82 minutes. Lunch was taken early and with drizzle persisting the umpires called off play just before 1600 GMT. South Africa were 12 runs behind England's first innings total of 316.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Team India Coach Gary Kirsten's ailing mother Garyl Hall passed away in Cape Town today after loosing a battle against cancer. Garyl, 64, was undergoing treatment for lung cancer at Vincent Pallotti Hospital. The Indian Team according to Captain Anil Kumble has sent his condolences to Kirsten. "Its a personal message...We've already sent it," Kumble told shortly after the opening day's play.

Kirsten was to join the team for the five match one day series but now it remains to be seen when he would be able to return to be among the players.

The Indian middle order failed yet again but opener Gautam Gambhir and a 51-run last wicket stand helped the visitors post a total of 249 against Sri Lanka in the third and final test in Colombo. Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis also picked up a 5 wicket hawl on the opening day of the final test match.

England captain Kevin Peiterson hit his 14th Test century and tailender Steve Harmison had his highest Test score to boost the host's chances of winning the fourth Test against South Africa at the Oval. At stumps on day II, South Africa holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, had moved to 37 for one in their second innings. They trail England by 85 runs. Kevin Peiterson became the fourth England player to score a century in his first match as captain.Brief Scores : South Africa 1st innings 194, England 1st innings 316, Pieterson 100, Collingwood 61. Bowling Ntini 5/94, Kallis 3/51. South Africa 2nd innings 37/1.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

In the final Test Match between South Africa and England at the Oval, it was the home team who managed to bundle out the visitors for a score below 200. Pieterson whose side have already lost the series, will have enjoyed the pace and swing his bowlers found on a largely overcast day at The Oval.Brief Scores :South Africa 1st innings 194 all out (64.5 overs) Smith 46, AB' Villiers 39. Bowling Anderson 3/42, Panesar 2/4. England 1st innings 49/1 (17 overs) Bell 22 n.o., Cook 20 n.o. Bowling Ntini 1/27.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Kevin Peiterson embraces the toughest challenge of a career already packed with incidents and controversy, when he leads England against his native South Africa in the fourth Test at the Oval on Thursday. Peiterson was confirmed as England's new captain on Monday after Michael Vaughan concluded his time was up following South Africa's third Test victory at the weekend.Kevin, 28, has not lacked self confidence since his debut against Australia in 2005.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Team India Coach Gary Kirsten won't be around the 3rd and final Test Match between India and Sri Lanka due to some emergency reasons. " This is a sad chapter of my life" said the coach before leaving for his home in Cape Town where his mother's condition has taken turn for the worse. " She has terminal cancer and is in hospital...Unfortunately her general condition has worsened...It's something one has to face up to", said Gary.

" I can't at this moment, say anything more... If she doesn't come through, then...Let's see how things go," Kirsten said emotionally.

Monday, August 4, 2008

According to sources, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has decided to confer the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Team India Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the Arjuna Awards to 10 sportspersons in as many disciplines.Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the second cricketer to bag the Khel Ratna. The first one is none other than the little master himself, Sachin Tendulkar. No doubt Dhoni is on a high and we convey our blessings to him and his team so that Team India can do much better to keep the glory of this award alive.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

India's series equalling win against Sri Lanka notwithstanding, former captain Kapil Dev is just not happy with the brittle middle-order that continues to fail the second time. The 1983 Prudential World Cup winning captain said although the 170-run win enabled India level the three match series 1-1, he felt disappointed by the much vaunted middle order.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene blames it all to the batsmen. Losing three early wickets in their second innings made things difficult for them, rued Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene. Besides Mahela also praised all his bowlers specially Ajantha Mendis who scalped a 10 wicket hawl. Sri Lankan skipper said that they are fully prepared for the third Test Match.

India made their mark in the 2nd Test Match by beating Sri Lanka and winning by 170 runs in Galle. Back to doing what he does best star India spinner Harbhajan Singh said that he is relieved to have put behind recent controversies and deliver the goods for the team. Apart from Harbhajan pacer Ishant Sharma also played a vital role in the victory. Overall it was a complete team effort.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Proteas claimed their first series win in England since 1965, though they did not play international cricket from 1970 to 1991 because of the country's isolation. They surrendered series leads in 1994, 1998 and 2003. England had gone six years without losing a Test series at home until India won in 2007 and now they have lost their second at home in the last three.Captain Smith was a doubt coming in to the match because of a back injury but elected to play with pain-killing tablets to ease his discomfort. His 16th Test century, scored in 246 balls, and fourth against England steered his team home.

A spirited India titled the balance of the second cricket Test in their favour by taking an overall lead of 237 runs to push Sri Lanka on the backfoot at close on the 3rd day. The visitors first dismissed the hosts for 292 to gain a vital 37-run lead playing a key role and then gave a solid batting display to reach a comfortable 200 when play was called off early due to bad light.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowler on Day 2 of the Secont Test Match between India and Sri Lanka at Galle. After all the fireworks by Virender Sehwag in batting it was now upto the bowlers to do the job. Harbhajan Singh took on the reponsibility on his own and claimed 4 important Sri Lankan wickets. Bhajji kept India in hunt of winning the Match.

Vireder Sehwag once again proved his critics that he is one of the most important player in the side as he is the best when he gets going. Sehwag stood bravely amid the ruins with a swashbucking unbeaten 201 to leave the second Test Match between India and Sri Lanka evenly poised at the end of second day on Friday. The dashing Sehwag again did the bulk of scoring as the Indians folded up for 329 in their first innings with Harbhajan Singh later on carrying forward the magic for his team.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Virender Sehwag smashed a brilliant 128, but the loss of four quick wickets saw India end Day 1 on 214 for 4, in the second Test against Sri Lanka. After the humiliating defeat in the first test match India will be looking to equal the series and win the test match.Brief Scores : India 1st innings 214/4 (43.3 overs) Sehwag 128 n.o., Gambhir 56, Bowling Vaasn 2/57, Mendis 2/74.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Thrashing Prasun Mukherjee 71-47 in the Cricket Association Of Bengal (CAB) elections Jagmohan Dalmiya once again became the president of BCCI. Dalmiya said, I wanted to be the BCCI President. Weighed down by garlands an bouquets an emotional Dalmiya added : "Cricket in the state needs me, thats why I'm back. I'll require a couple of days to sit down with colleagues and then, chalkout plans.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

AB de Villiers' sixth Test century put South Africa on the verge of winning the second Test at Headingley after England ended the third day 269 runs behind the visitors on Sunday. De Villiers, on 70 overnight, plundered 174 in predominantly sunny conditions for what was the slowest of his test centuries, helping South Africa to an imposing first innings total of 522 all out in reply to England's 203. They kept England in the field for more than 12 hours. Brief Scores :England 1st innings 203. South Africa 1st innings 522 all out (176.2 overs), De Villiers 174, Prince 149, Smith 44. Bowling Anderson 3/136, Pattinson 2/95. England 2nd innings 50/2 (24 overs), Cook 23 n.o. Vaughan 21. Bowling Ntini 2/16.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Despite a gutsy knock by Sachin Tendulkar on the 2nd Day of the Warm up game the Indian famed batting lineup was made to struggle on the difficult track as the Sri Lankan side left the visitors gasping to alow total on a rain - truncated day. Brief Scores :Sri Lanka BdXI 1stinnings 224. India 1st innings 196/8 (49 overs). Sachin 69, Kathik 58 n.o. Bowling, Prasad 3/30, Fernando 2/27.

Friday, July 18, 2008

India started their tour of Sri Lanka on an impressive note with their bowlers putting up a tidy performance to bundle out Sri Lanka Board XI for a mere total. Electing to bat first the home team never really recovered from a shaky start and could have been skittled out for a much lower first inings total had it not been for a resolute 100 run partnership for the 5th wicket. BriefScores :Sri Lanka Board XI 1st innings 224 all out (71.5 overs), Kandamby 84, Silva 68. Bowling, Kumble 3/30, Khan 2/35. India 1st innings 4/1 (0.4 overs), Gambhir 4. Bowling, Fernando 1/4.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Harbhajan Singh does not doubt the mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis potential but the star offspinner believes it is old trickster Muttiah Muralitharan, who would pose a bigger threat for the Indian batsmen in the forthcoming Test series.

" It will be Muralitharan who will pose a bigger challenge and do well in the series and not Mendis. You cannot compare Mendis and Murali. Oh come on, Murali has been doing it for so many years whereas Mendis has just started." said Harbhajan.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

After three months in the wilderness following the slapgate episode, controversial offspinner Harbhajan Singh is back to what he does best and eager to prove his match winning mettle. Harbhajan lamented on missing the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan but said he was now looking forward to the Sri Lanka series.

" Every cricketer wants to play each and every game and I also wanted the same but things obviously didn't go well for me. But I have learnt a lot from whatever happened and looking forward to starting well. Harbhajan said."

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Contoversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar made a comeback while while senior batsman Mohammad Yusuf was left out of the 30 member Champions Trophy preliminary squad. There was much speculation about whether Shoaib would make the Champions Trophy preliminary squad since last week, after the selectors confirmed he was on their list for the tournament.

But the board has made it clear that Shoaib would only be considered if he paid the fine of 7 million rupees imposed on him by the appelate tribunal last month.

India's only World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev was taken ill during a trip to the city and returned home to New Delhi on Tuesday. Kapil Dev who was to have spent atleast a couple of days here, was laid down by food poisoning. In the evening he was reported to be better. We wish Kapil Dev to recover very soon and get back to his work shortly.